Corn-harvester



(No'Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet I.

J. I. ASHBAUGH. CORN HARVESTER.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. I. ASHBAUGH. G oRN HARVESTER.

l Patented Feb. 9,' 1897.

1H: Norms PETERS co. mmoumo., wAsnlNnmN, n c.

(No Model.) 5 sheets-sheen 4.

J. I. ASHBAUGH. I

CORN HARVESTER.

Patentd Peb. 9, 1897.

(No Moden) 5 sheetssheet 5.

-J. I. ASHBAUCTH.y

ooRN HARVESTER.

No. 576,647. Patented Peb. 9, 1897.

'mi Nonms Finns co., Fnovouno., WASHINGTON, nA c.

JOI-IN I. ASHBAUGI-I, OF

RICHMOND, KENTUCKY.

CORN-HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 576,647', datedFebruary 9, 1897'. Application filed September 6, 1895. Serial No.561,634. V(No model.)

To @ZZ who/l1, t 711/50 coll/007W.:

Be it known that I, JOHN I. ASHBAUGH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Richmond, in the county of Madison and State of Kentucky,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn -Ilarvestersgand I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to an improvement in harvesting machineryfor cutting, bundling, and binding corn and other agricultural products,the object of the invention being to provide a locomotive machinerywhich can traverse the corn-field and in its course operate and cut,bundle, and bind the stalks by means of acontinuous series of automaticmovements; and the invention therefore consists, essentially, in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of parts, suhstantially aswill be hereinafter described, and then more particularly pointed out inthe claims.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a topplan view of my improved corn-harvester. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side elevation of themachine, the view being similar in some respects to that in Fig. 2, buton a diminished scale. Fig. is a front end elevation. Fig. 5 is anopposite side elevation from that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is 'anenlarged detail view of the gearing which operates the cutting mechanismfrom the main drive-shaft. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the gearing at oneside of the machine Which operates the elevating mechanism from the maindrive-shaft. Fig. 8 is a rear end elevation showing the compressingmechanism and releasing-lugs 7152.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutall the different figures of the drawings.

A designates the main horizontal frame of my improved harvestingmachine, which frame may be of any suitable and desirable form andstructu 'e, it being preferably made as light as possible, having at thefront end the horizontal foot-board,on which is mounted the drivers scatl' and to which is attached the tongue or pole b, and having at the rearend the platform A', on which the binding mechanism and certain othermechanical 5 5 parts of the invention are situated.

d d designate the main d rive-wl1eels,which are attached to thehorizontal shaft B,which runs transversely across the under side of themain frame A at or near the front end 6o thereof and is supported insuitable bearings.

At the rear end of the platform A are the two smaller wheels d a', whichare mounted lin such a manner as will'best enable an easy guidance andshifting of the machine in its 65 course.

On the main drive-shaft B, near one of the wheels d, is a sprocket-wheelO, around which passes a chain c, which also engages anothersprocket-wheel C on the end of a horizontal 7o shaft C2, which issupported in bearings at the front end of the main frame A at a pointnear the attachment of the pole b. (See Figs.

l and 5.) On the other end of the shaft C2is a bevel gear-wheel Ll,which is securely fixed 7 5 upon the vertical rotary shaft L, whichcarries the arm l of the reel that engages the standing cornstalks andfeeds them to the action of the cutting' mechanism. I preferably placeupon the vertical shaft L an upper 8o set of arms l, which arepreferably of curved form and are attached at their inner end to a h ubwhich is adjustable upon the rod L by means of a set-screw, and alsoanother lower set of similar curved arms Z, which are like- 8 5 wiseadjustable vertically upon the rod L, so as to be placed nearer to orfartheraway from ,the cutters. The upper and lower arms Z arevpreferably connected together by means of sheets of netting Z', of wireor other suitable 9o substance, whereby the ears of corn may beprevented from catching and dragging. The curvature of the arms Zenables them to better bring the cornstalks under the action of thecutting-disks. 9 5

The rate of revolution of the feeding-reels just described will beconsiderably less than that of the cutting-disks, because itis onlynecessary that this feeding device should rotate with sufiicientrapidity to catch the loo On the main shaft B there is also a gearwheelF, which is located not very far from the sprocket-wheel C abovementioned. (See Figs. l and 7.) an other gear-wheel Fl on a short shaftf, which is supported in suitable hearings in the main frame and whichcarries at its opposite and outer end a sprocket-wheel F2. (See Figs. land Around the sprocket-wheel F2 passes the chain Fil, which runs upwardin an inclined position along the side of the main frame and passesaround another sprocketwheel F, which is fixed on a shaft G, journaledat the top of the main frame and operating to drive the elevating chainsor carriers, whereby the cut fodder is elevated to a position whence itis transferred to the rear binding mechanism. That portion of the mainframe which supports the shaft G and the other parts just referred tomay be constructed and arranged in any desired manner. As an example, Ihave shown in the drawings the inclined side bars F5, rising in aninclined position from the horizontal frame A, and from the upper endsof these side bars F5 extend the forwardly-inelined side bars G3, whoselower ends reach the forward end of the main frame A. The left sidebarG3 is raised above the elevating-chains. In the lower portions, or inthe forward ends of these inclined side bars G3, or in any othersuitable part of the main frame, is journaled the horizontal shaft G',corresponding to the shaft G, above mentionethand parallel thereto.These shafts Gand G' extend horizontally across the entire machine fromone side to the other. On each shaft is a series of sprocket-wheels, anda series of chains G2 G2 G2 pass around the sprocket-wheels on the shaftG and also around the sprocket-wheels on the shaft G'. Said chains areprovided'at intervals with right-angled projections g g. In theillustration of myinvention shown in the drawings I have shown five ofthese chains G2. The shaft G is, as l have already stated, adriving-shaft and the shaft G' is a driven shaft. Power which is appliedto the shaft G by means of the chain F3, the sprocket-wheels Fc and F4,and the gear-wheels F and F' from the shaft B suffices to drive all ofthese elevating` chains or carriers and enables them to perform theirproper function of raising the fodder or corn after it has been cut bythe cutting mechanism and carrying' the same away from the cutter andupward to the upper part of the machine, where it can be delivered tothe binding devices, as will be hereinafter more fully explained. I donot wish to be restricted to any particular number of or pattern forthese elevating-chains or lifting devices for the harvested material,but reserve the liberty of so varying, reconstructing, and adapting themas may enable them to best serve the purposes of my presentimprovements.

On the front end of the main frame A (see Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, and 5) is aseries of rearwardlycurved arms which rise vertically from the Thisgear-wheel F engages f corn that might be blown or otherwise thrownfront end of the frame and are then curved un til they proj ectrearwardly and downwardly for the purpose of catching the cut stalks offorward and carry them by force of gravity back in proper position to becaught by the elevators. These guide-arms are designated N. They areverticallyadjustable by means of set-screws n n, which operate to clampthem in their sockets, the adjustment being for the purpose of enablingthem to be properly positioned with respect to the arms of thefeeding-reel, which revolve in close proximity to these guide-arms N. Onthe side of the part of the frame G3 nearest to the cutting mechanism isthe stationary and adj ustable side arm M, to the forward end of whichis attached the laterally-curved horizontal guide-rod 1n, which projectsinto proximity to the elevating devices and assist-s in enabling thecornstalks to be delivered from the cutting devices to the latter.

By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the side arm M can beadjusted by causing the attaching-bolt therefor to enter one or theother of the holes in the series shown in the part G3.

M' denotes a shield which is located in advance of the cuttingmechanism, said shield serving to inclose and protect the gearing and asa guide, and also operating to catch and raise cornstalks until they arebrought in contact with the arms of the reel, it being form ed with thereceiving-mouth,into which the cornstalks are fed, so that they will bein accurate position to be caught and cut by the cutting-disks. Thelocation of these shields and guides M' is clearly shown in Figs. l, 2,and 3, it being observed that the arms of the rotative feed-rcel operatea short distance above the mouth of the guide-shields M', andconsequently as the machine pursues its course through the corn-fieldthe cornstalks will be, by means of the feed-reel, surely directed, asshown bythe arrows in Fig. l, into the mouth of the guide M', where thecutting devices will act upon them. At the left-hand side of the guideis a curved bar M2, which connects bar M with bar M and acts as a braceand guide.

I will now describe the construction and mode of operation of thecutting devices.

On the main drive-shaft B is a gear-wheel D, the same being a beveledgear. This gear is movable to a greater or less extent upon thedrive-shaft B, so that it may be thrown into and out of gear with thecorresponding bevel gear-wheel E on the end of a horizontal shaft c, onthe other end of which horizontal shaft e is another bevel gear-wheelE', which engages a bevel-gear o on an upright shaft O, which issuitably journaled in the main frame and which carries the cutting-disksE2 and E3. (See Figs. l, 3, and G.) The adjustment of the gear D iseffected by means of a link d, which is loosely attached to the collaron gear D and which is pivoted at its other end IOC to a bell-crank d'.To this bell-crank is pivoted another link d2, which isY pivotallyattached to the lower end of a lever d3. This lever is placedconveniently near the drivers seat B', so that it can be operated by theperson seated thereon. ALever cl3 is provided with a catch device d4,which engages the toothed segment d5. It will be clear, therefore, thatthe operator of the machine can whenever he desires throw the gear Dinto or out of mesh with the gear E and therebj7 actuate or stop thecutting devices. The two cutting-disks E2 and E3 are situated one at theupper end and the other at the lower end of their shaft O and areadjustable thereon, so as to cut the stalk in two sections, the uppersection of which contains the ear of corn and is to be bundled and tied,as hereinafter described, the lower section to be severed by the lowerdisk in close proximity to the ground and allowed to drop out of the wayof the machine and subsequent cultivation, thereby saving labor andexpense in handling valueless parts of the cornstalk. The lower disk E3may be removed in cutting extremely short corn or where its services arenot desired. One or the other or both of these cutting wheels or disksE2 and E3 are shaped with an undulating or wave-like periphery, as it isbelieved that this gives a better cutting edge. In addition to thesepower-driven cutting-disks there is another circular disk E4, thecutting edge of which operates by lapping under and in contact withwheel E2, and which wheel E4 simply rotates in consequence of thecontact of the cornstalks or other materialtherewith and is not powerdriven.

Disk E2 is beveled from above downward, and disk E4` is beveled frombelow upward, giving cutting edges similar to those of a pair ofscissors, which I believe to be more advantageous than other forms ofcutting edge. I do. not wish to be confined to the precise arrangementdescribed. I prefer horizontal disks, but others may be employed ifthought best. It will be observed that near the guideshield M' isanother curved guard-piece E5, which serves as a support for the lowerend of the feeding-reel shaft L.

On the shaft G is a sprocket-wheel z., around which passes a chain h',which also passes around another sprocket-Wheel h2, that is fixed on adrive-shaft H, said shaft being j ournaled in bearings in the upper endsof the two vertical parallel standards P' P', which are supported on themain frame A at the opposite edges of the rear platform A'. In this waythe shaft H is driven from the shaft G. On the shaft H are twogear-wheels K K. These gear-wheels K engage the vertical rack-bars 7s,which carry at their lower ends the forks 7e'. The rack-bars 7c arevertically movable within the sockets 7a3. Hence as the gearwheels K:rotate the rack-bars k and the forks k' will .be lifted. Thegear-wheels K K are clutched to the shaft H by means of an ordinaryclutching device, as K2. Vith this form of clutch it is evident that byshifting the gear-wheels K slightly upon the shaft H the will likewisebe thrown out of engagement with the teeth of the rack-bars 7c.

On the forks k' k' are the curved clutchdisplacing lugs or cams 7a2 k2,which are laterally curved, so that when they rise their convex sideswill strike against the inside of the gears and force them out ofengagement with the clutches, when the rack-bars are lifted to theproper height.

7a4 designates double pawls, which are pivoted at their center, and theupper and lower ends of which are adapted to engage the teeth of therack-bars 7c 7s. These pawls h4 are operated by a hand-lever 705. Whenthe rackbars la have been lifted to the proper height, said pawls may becaused to engage the rackbars, as shown in Fig. 2, or when the rackbarsare in their lower position the lower ends of the pawls may then becaused to engage the racks for the purpose of keeping the forks k'closely pressed down upon the harvested material which may be beneaththem and prevent any rebound.

On the left side of the machine, near the opposite edge of the platformA', is a rectangular upright bar J', which is fastened at one end uponthe platform A' and at its other end is attached rigidly to the upperjunction of the side bars G3 and F5, so erected as to be out of the wayof the movement of platform P, the purpose of this right-angled barbeing to act as a brace to strengthen the parts of the framework and toserve for the attachment thereto of certain operating parts. 'Further,it willl be observed that depending from the upper junction of the sidebars G3 and F5 are the plates or arms F6, in the lower ends of which isjournaled a horizontal shaft I, that carries the curved arms it',projecting from the shaft I, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, so that theylie below the shaft G, and

' adapted, therefore, to receive upon them the gathered corn, which iscarried upward by means of the elevating-carriers and delivered thereby,at the top of the machine near the shaft G, said material falling uponthe arms it'. The shaft I is furthermore provided with an arm I',projecting in one direction, and the arm I2, projecting in the oppositedirection, the end of the arm I' being furnished with the Weight I3, andthe end of the arm I2 being bent at an angle to engage a bent-wirespring J, which is attached to the frame J'. It will be obvious that theweighted arm I' will be sufficient to maintain the shaft I and its armsfi in equilibrium or in a stationary position until the weight of thematerial overcomes the power of the weighted arm, and the operator thenliberates the weighted arm I'. Then the arms 't' will drop andautomatically discharge their contents, as from a basket, upon theplatform P, which I style the ICO IIO

binding-platform, and which has the function of receiving the gatheredmaterial for the purpose of permitting it to be bound in bundles forremoval from the machine. Vhen the basket or receiver, consisting of thearms i, is in its normal position and is receiving the material that isbeing delivered thereto from the elevating` mechanism, the bent end ofthe arm l2 will be resting upon the upper bent end of the spring J, saidarm l2 thereby assisting the weight I3 in keeping the parts inequilibrium. NVhen the material has been discharged, the weight I3serves to restore the basket immediately to its former position, andconsequently the bent end of the arm l2 immediately returns to theposition where it rests upon the upper end of the spring` J, as shown inFig. 2.

The platform P is mounted upon a pivot at p2, as shown in Fig. l, sothat it may be shifted about in a rotary way. lt is provided with therearwardly-projecting lever or handle p, by means of which this shiftingmay be accomplished. lt is also provided with the rear Vertical rididarms or osts P2 secured to thev rails S' S', which are made stationaryon the platform P and to which are also attached by rivets the two armsP2. The lever p is fulcrumed on the short standard p8 and passes underbar V, which connects the two arms P3, so that by depressing therearmost end of the lever p the bars P3 can be brought up to brace andcompress the bundle. On the platform P, near its edge, are wired spoolsP5. The wire on these spools is lead off therefrom and then around thebundle and tied. In this way the bundle of corn, after it falls upon theplatform P and is compressed thereon, can be tightly bound and tiedtogether into a small compass for easy removal and handling.

Suppose now that the bundle of gathered corn or other similar vegetablematerial has just been dumped from the basket upon the platform P. Theforks 7s we maynow consider to be in an elevated position, being heldthere by means of the pawls 7a4, the gear-wheels KV K having just beenautomatically unclutched, as before described. Now of course the nextthing to do is to bind the loose fodder in a iirm bundle. The pawls willirst be disengaged from the racks 7c and the forks 7s' drop down firmlyover the corn. At the same time the arms P3 will be drawn up toward thearms P2 by operating lever p, and the wiring of the bundle will thentake place. In order to bring the forks k 7a' firmly down upon thefodder, I employ the mechanism shown in Fig. 8, where it will be seenthat to the cross-piece R, in whose sockets 7a3 the rack-bars 7svertically move, are attached pivotally the toggles S S, to which theropes s s are connected. These ropes s S pass around the pulley deviceT, suspended by a connection if from the beam R, and said ropes areattached to the stirrup U, which depends adjacent to the platform P. Theoperator by placing his foot in the stirrup U and pressing downward upont-he same will cause the toggles S S to extend themselves, and this willresult in forcing the forks 7c rmly down upon the fodder or oth ermaterial and tightly compressing the bundle. Then the forks 71; havethus been depressed, thc pawls 71:4 will keep them in this position andthus catch any rebound thereof, after which the bundle is tied. Thelever or handle 1J is pivoted on the upper side of the platform P, sothat by pressing down on the end of the lever or handle p the arms P2,connected by a rod V, will be raised for the purpose of securing andretaining the material to be bound. The lever is also to be used, afterrotating the platform P, to dump the bundle from the carriage.

EG is a brace-rod made fast to platform A, passing horizontally over thecutting-disks and secured to the reel-shaft as a brace for thereel-shaft, also serving to stop butts of stalks and guiding themoutward, thus acting to keep cut stalks off of the cutting-disks.

The adjustment of gearwheels K K on shaft H may be effected with similarlink and collar as gear D by levers S2, fulcrumed on standards P'.

The rack-bars t t are joined between the junctions of 7c' 7c' and thelower arms of toggle S on forks 7c by substantial cross-bar S5.

The chain 71, is so attached to the sprocketwheel K that the same maybethrown out of gear and the elevating-bar 7c raised and lowered by meansof a loose and detachable crank placed on the drive-shaft l-I, therebyallowing the binding-platform P and the forks k' to be used to bind andrebind material when the machine remains stationary.

The lower half or arm of toggle S operates loosely within a groove inthe rack-bar k, beginning at or near the juncture of 7c with 7s, andextends upward a sufficient distance to allow full play to the action ofthe compressing mechanism.

The elevator platform may bc made of sheet-iron or tin.

The rear wheels are swiveled or so arranged as will best enable an easyguidance of the machine.

Having t-hus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecu re. by Letters Patent, is

1. In a corn-harvesting machine, the combination with the cutting anddelivering mechanism, of the compressing devices, consisting essentiallyof a rotating platform, verticallymovable forks, gears engagingrack-bars on said forks, and means carried by said forks toautomatically disengage the gears, substantially as described.

2. In a corn-harvesting machine, the combination with the cuttingmechanism, of elevating mechanism, means for guiding the material ontothe elevating mechanism, a basket for receiving the cut material,locking means for said basket, means for automatically righting saidbasket after dumping, a rotating platform to receive the material,compressing IOO IIO

yIO

.mechanism on said platform, comprising a series of forks, means forelevating and depressing the forks, and means for lockingthe forks whendepressed.

3. In a corn-harvestin g machine, the combination with the cutting andelevating mechanism, of basket mechanism for delivering the cutmaterial, a rotating platform to receive the material, and bindingmechanism on said platform, consisting of vertically-movable forks,means for operating the forks from the main drive-shaft, a series ofrigid arms to the rear of the rotating platform, a series of pivotedarms to the front of the platform, and a lever to operate the pivotedarms to compress the material.

4. In a corn-harvestin g machine, the combination with the cutting,elevating and delivally, a horizontal beam supported on the platform andcarrying the forks,toggles connected with the beam and forks, a stirrupand connections between the stirrup and toggles, by means of which thetoggles may be extended and the forks depressed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN I. ASHBAUGH.

IVitn esses:

J. H. POWELL, WELBY W. BURGIN.

